avatarMary V ☺️

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of defining one's purpose on Medium, whether for monetization or personal fulfillment, to avoid distractions and make the most of the platform.

Abstract

The author of the article, a relatively new writer on Medium, shares insights on the necessity of having a clear purpose for using the platform. They discuss the potential for making money through Medium's Partner Program but caution that it may not be a reliable source of income. Instead, they suggest creating additional products or services to sell and using Medium as a lead generator. The article also addresses the non-monetary benefits of Medium, such as connecting with like-minded individuals and finding inspiration. The author advises against chasing social media validation and recommends organic growth of followers by engaging with genuine content that aligns with one's interests and goals.

Opinions

  • The author believes that one should not rely solely on Medium's Partner Program for consistent income, suggesting it's more akin to supplemental earnings.
  • They advocate for the creation and promotion of external products or services to significantly increase revenue.
  • The author values genuine connections and engagement over the number of followers or superficial interactions.
  • They discourage the "follow for follows" strategy, viewing it as a disingenuous method to boost one's perceived popularity.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over one's audience by directing followers to personal newsletters or websites.
  • They encourage supporting and sharing the work of smaller, talented writers to foster a community that enriches its members.
  • The author suggests that quality and genuine interest should guide one's interactions on Medium, rather than the pursuit of acknowledgment for its own sake.

Remember Why You’re On Medium

You’ll waste your time if you don’t define your purpose and pursue it regularly and vigorously, ignoring all those alluring rabbit holes

Photo by Satyabrata sm on Unsplash

A writer who’s barely 30 days old here may not seem read-worthy but humor me. I’m no Medium expert but I have strategically listened to those that seem to know a thing or two. And I’ve done a little research of my own. Still, if you decide my thoughts here are nonsense or self-evident, feel free to let me know in the comments. Imma Big Girl! And naturally, I welcome supportive words, too :)

The continual clamor on this platform is deafening and diverting. You pop in to write an article, to check your follower numbers, to catch up with your favorite writers, or to research publications.

And then what happens? Shiny Object Syndrome distracts with one of the other activities. Which leads to another. And then another. Down you go … fire in the hole!

Even with logging in lots of time, are your actions leading directly to what you want to achieve? Or are they steering you on a meandering detour? A disappointing dead-end?

Staying on course demands asking yourself this one question: why am I on Medium?

There are two reasons to be here: monetization or personal fulfillment. And of course it can be some combination of the two. Let’s take a closer look to be clear that our expectations are reasonable in order to maximize our time on the platform.

Are you ready? Here are mine.

Reason #1: I want to make money and I’m not ashamed to say it. You, too?

Well then, what will it take to make money? How much time, effort, and energy must be expended? Is that the same as what you’re willing and able to put in?

If you’re pursuing the Partner Program like me, then prepare for the payback to be more like a rainy day fund. I’m talking a fancy coffee, maybe a lunch or two, or even a pair of designer shoes if you get lucky. Certainly nothing that one can rely upon, as a consistent cash flow.

Yes, some very successful writers make four-figures in a month. But that ratchets up and down for them, as well. And they are in the very small minority to realize this amount.

Do you want to increase your cash influx beyond the Partner Program? Making “bigger bucks” in Medium generally happens when you have something to sell other than just your words on this platform. You use Medium as a lead generator, not an end goal.

It could involve using your words, like in a book, a course, or a workshop. But it’s essentially a product or service. Potential buyers are introduced to what you’re selling when they click on the little envelope in your profile to be notified via email whenever you publish. Behind the scenes, you shift them to your own platform, retaining their contact details over there.

For example, I self-published a book in 2020 which I would love to see move up the charts as it continues to get discovered. So that’s my product right now and I plan to write a few more books on different topics.

I’m going to redirect my followers to my own newsletter (I haven’t done this yet) which shares my book details and connects to the third party retailers selling it. This also enables me to share other updates and intel beyond my Medium stories. I don’t lose touch with them if and when Medium makes changes to the platform. Or if they or I leave Medium.

Yes, they can always unsubscribe at any time. But I am not dependent on a space I don’t control. I like control, don’t you?

Suggested takeaways:

  • Identify your financial goal and understand what it takes to achieve it
  • Create a product or service that can ramp up your revenue
  • Determine a non-Medium landing place to link your followers, i.e., Substack or a personal website
  • Consider the suggested takeaways under Reason #2

Reason #2: I’m here to connect with other kindred souls, to encourage self-acceptance, and to provide inspiration.

If you’re not (only) here for the money, articulate your reason for writing and what topics and format are your jam.

Does size matter? Well, that’s a personal question, I know. But here’s my take. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with social media platforms ever since I hopped on. The worst misconception I initially bought into was that Likes, Follows, Friending, Comments, Claps, Retweets … whatever form Acknowledgement took … equalled Success. Doh!

Once I pulled myself out of that rabbit hole, the best thing I did was hit pause. Followed by reset. Before I returned, I forced myself to define my purpose with why I write. Because it’s way too easy to focus on validation and conclude I’m riding the wave.

Now, if the only goal I had was Acknowledgement, then mission accomplished, no? And if that’s yours, it’s your choice. However, people’s actions are not always aligned with their goals. So tread lightly there.

Beware of folks who are hell-bent with a “follow for follows” strategy. Who you never hear from again because they don’t engage. When I jumped on in January, I encountered many touting this approach in order to reach the magical 100-followers entry requirement for the Partners Program.

In fact, some advise continuing the “follow for follows” approach indefinitely to appear popular and read-worthy. Goodness, are we back in high school?

Genuine interest matters to me. So I’m letting my followers grow organically and I’m almost in the triple digits already. I don’t follow every one of my followers, if their interests are not mine. Or if their writing is not stellar.

I’m not here to offend anyone with this. But when the amount of incredible content published every hour is akin to drinking from a gushing hose, why fake interest in something or encourage what’s mediocre? Both actions take time that I don’t have to spare. Do you?

Suggested takeaways:

  • Allot specified time to respond to those who engage with your stories. In fact, go check out their stories, too. See if you find common ground. If their writing isn’t for you, be polite and move on. Doesn’t mean you have to follow them.
  • Look into publications where kindred souls have uploaded their stories. It’s a great way to find where your voice will resonate, too. You’ll likely make more connections there, as well.
  • Mention and share small but mighty writers. Just because some stories get tons of engagement doesn’t mean they’re the best. It just means they got disseminated well. The business of writing sometimes trumps the actual writing, sorry. Yet we can achieve respectable discovery the more we support each other.

Medium provides an opportunity to carve out a community that enriches its writers. In the spirit of sharing, I recommend you check out the stories of Erica Marie and Art Bram who are two lovely writers. If you like me, you’ll like them. Tell ’em I sent you over!

Not sure of me yet? Learn more about me right here:

I’d love to hear your thoughts … And thanks for stopping by!

New Writers On Medium
My View
Advice
Ideas
Inspiration
Recommended from ReadMedium